For anyone fighting the imminent health risks of obesity, there are a number of diets available to aid their weight loss objective. One such diet is that consisting of high-fat foods. The association with fats in foods and excessive fat on the human body is no more than a common misconception. Nevertheless, there are both advantages and disadvantages to a high fat diet for everyone.

Benefits of High Fat Diets

Weight Loss

Although it sounds counter-productive, eating food loaded with fat is helpful for weight loss. This way of eating is the basis of a plan that has been popular for the last two decades, called the Atkins Diet.

The main idea is to reduce the number of carbohydrates you take in your body; when your body lacks energy, it starts to use other energy sources, including fat, and, so, the body starts to burn fat. If you follow the diet correctly, you can lose weight quickly, particularly early on.

Only One Restriction Type

Another pro for a high fat diet is that the only restriction is carbs. All other types of food are open to your consumption. With many other diets, you have to limit much of what you eat and altogether avoid certain foods. Not so with a diet high in fat; you can eat meat, eggs, dairy, and nuts.

No Tiredness

When you eat sugary or gluten-based foods, you may feel tired the next day. Eliminate this groggy feeling with a high-fat diet. If you also experience cramping, and your tummy feels sore, you will likely find yourself free of these symptoms by wiping out carbs.

High-Fat Diets: The Drawbacks

Ketosis

A high fat diet can leave you feeling irritable and give you headaches because it leads to ketosis. Your kidneys have to work harder too. Ketosis has also led to heart palpitations and, in rare cases, heart failure.

Lacks Nutrients

Another con of high-fat diets is that you miss out on a range of nutrients that are crucial to the body. Carbohydrates are a big part of many plant-based foods that promote cell-protecting antioxidants and contain phytochemicals that have benefits ranging from boosting the immune system to skin health and heart health, depending on the type of food.

Risks to Heart Health

Also, by increasing the amount of saturated fat you consume, you increase heart-related risks, such as stroke and heart disease. If your diet limits high-fibre plant-based foods too, then you may notice your once-low cholesterol level isn’t doing so well.

It is obvious there are pros and cons of a high-fat diet. However, the only way to know for sure if it is right for you to is to try it. Always check with your doctor before changing your diet, though, to make sure it is safe for your body.

Author: Luke

Thai Boxing Coach & Ex-Professional Thai Boxer Luke is a certified fitness trainer and nutritionist, specialising in the area of sports nutrition.
He competed at a professional level of Thai Boxing in Thailand and UK between 2007 and 2013 and remains undefeated.
In recent years he has focused his time on training others, teaching martial arts to both beginners and experienced fighters, coaching athletes in strength training and providing nutritional advice and diet plans to aid his fighters and clients maximize their training.
In his spare time Luke blogs for Nutrition Coach, his personal sports nutrition blog.